Anime Review: Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma

Image source to milkcananime.com

Water is boiling in the pot while warm steam is floating above.

Dicing the soft and freshly rinsed mushroom into bite-sized bits.

Chopping the vegetables at about finger's length.

Marinating the beef roast for more than a few hours, allowing the meat to soak up the sweet juice.

These are only some of the terms used by people who are familiar with the art of cooking or those who have spent many years in the kitchen.  But then, there are the masters.

The masters of cooking.

Chefs.

And they've either refined their skills through experience or through culinary school.

Or in this case, culinary high school.

Introducing Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma, this anime is about 15-year-old Soma Yukihira, who dreams of surpassing his father, Jouichirou's cooking skills--and taking over the family restaurant--when all of a sudden, Soma's father decides to close up shop and goes to America to cook for 5-star hotels.  Soma is sent to go study at an elite culinary high school/academy where only 10% of the class graduates.  It is only there when Jouichirou challenges him over the phone--to survive the academy or don't even dream of surpassing him!  With his fighting spirit being re-ignited, Soma is determined to be not just one of the 10% graduates--he's going to take the top spot!

Image source to ign.com

My first impression of this show, though many of my friends insist that it's a really good anime, is that it's going to be just about food (Not a great impression, at first).  Now, the last time I've ever watched a cooking-genre anime is "Fighting Foodons"--and so, I can understand how it appeals to my brother, who was a big fan of FF as a kid growing up.

I love the opening theme song as it takes me to feeling rather nostalgic, like people making good memories with friends and pursuing their dreams and always keeping their good memories close.  It made me remember when I was at around Soma's age, just starting out high school.

What's even better?

That opening theme song is then later sung by one of the FW characters, Satoshi Isshi, when he was drunk on rice wine/sake in the dorm party.  I was overwhelmingly full of joy when I heard him singing it!  I love it when anime series do that--re-using their songs to play an actual part in the episode(s)!

Satoshi Isshi and the others welcoming Soma to the dormitory/the group.
Image source to shokugekinosoma.wikia.com

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The character cast is very versatile, all with contrasting personalities and a great deal of different backgrounds, each unique down to their cooking styles or specialities.  The character designs are colorful in every way (like, literally, with the hair colors and all)--and I enjoy watching each episode (episode 18 is currently out) as Soma's group of friends grows and grows.

Image source to kumakreations.com

Although I'm not completely up to date with the anime as I've just recently started watching the series, the animation of both the cooking and the cooking ingredients coming together as a dish really works as to generate excitement and interest of the viewers.  It really drew my attention as I was watching Episode 1 when Soma was creating his "Gotcha" pork-roast (bacon-covered and boiled potatoes) for the real-estate agent-lady--and the way the anime's food is drawn and presented?  Simply delicious and making you want to cook as well!

Soma's "Gotcha" pork-roast dish.  Image source to
shokugekinosoma.wikia.com

On the other side, one of the very few negative down-sides of "Food Wars" is that yes, the animation is so greatly exaggerated for my taste--that when people eat food, their clothes explode or other sexual-related reaction scenes come up.  Honestly, it makes me wonder whether or not I should take the show seriously.  Also, what bothers me a little bit is that the main character, Soma, is the typical hero--the typical underdog who overcomes his obstacles through sheer willpower and determination--then, add some luck or prodigy skills into the mix--and there!  You've got yourself a Soma.  Plus, his mother is missing or presumed to be deceased.  And like most anime parents, they sent their child to live on their own and to star in their own show.  

Image source to shonenjump.viz.com

Image source to cuchallain.tumblr.com

Image source to kaz-episode-reviews

While I do find it overdone--his good moral code and fighting spirit which is found in every typical anime underdog,  I also have deep respect his cool, even temper when dealing with "rude customers" (Me being a person who's been in the food service industry...admire that trait a lot)--because I, well, can't stand them.  And well, there's already a good handful of hot-tempered protagonists in the other anime series.  What also persuades me to watch furthermore of the "Food Wars"--is the fact that the show's got such a huge cast--but every one of them has their own cooking specialities and the people's reactions to each dish cooked by each character is different.  In that way, as the anime reveals each of their skills and what they literally bring to the kitchen--it really is..well, a melting pot of interesting events and outcomes--especially since "Food Wars" is a competition to become among the 10%!

Overall, I think the show caters to those who are fanatics of cooking--or food lovers.  So, if you like watching people cook (& engage in competitions/shokugeki duels), this is the show for you!  In this case, I rate "Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma"--4 out of 5 stars ★★★★☆

Hope that you enjoy this review!

Love,

Yoko~

P.S. If you've got any ideas on what anime I should review--comment below! c: